Table of contents for Issue 338 2025 in The Big Issue

Ellaine passed away on 3 September last year, and was buried a week later. Her loss has been felt profoundly by all of us who had the privilege of knowing and working with her. Ellaine’s pitch was at the Spar entrance in Pinelands and at the robots of Howard Shopping Centre in Pinelands, where she was a faithful vendor, selling the magazine for an impressive 28 years. We remember Ellaine as an exceptional, loving, warm-hearted, humble woman, always ready with a joke; who lived to serve her customers. She had been ill for some time, however, we didn’t have any inclination that her passing was imminent. As a result, we at The Big Issue were so shocked when it happened. Her funeral, held at Maitland Cemetery, and attended by her…

When Nosipho brought her newborn home, everything seemed perfect. Her baby slept, cooed and cuddled just like any other. But something wasn’t right; there was no response to sound. It took months before Nosipho discovered that her daughter had been born with hearing loss, and even longer to find the help they needed. She’s not alone. Around 17 babies are born in South Africa each day with permanent hearing loss; that’s more than 6 000 every year. Most aren’t tested at birth – a 2009 survey found only one in four hospitals o? ered screening, and with many births occurring outside hospitals, even fewer babies are checked early on. Neurobiology shows there’s a ‘critical window’ in the first six months of life for developing the auditory system. If babies with…

Childhood experiences with food lay the foundation for our culinary preferences and cooking habits as we grow older. Those early meals, whether filled with joy or challenges, become intertwined with our memories and emotions, shaping our palates in ways we may not even be aware of. The interplay of good and bad childhood food experiences creates a tapestry of taste that influences our cooking styles and preferences. As we explore new ingredients and techniques, we find ourselves balancing the flavours and practices from our past with our current cooking adventures. We curate a culinary identity that reflects both our roots and our ongoing journey; with food transforming into a meaningful connection to our history, culture, and the people we love. Lately, I’ve noticed more peers making a conscious effort to…

This is a dedication to the creatures that have turned my life upside down, yet have brought immense love, joy and bliss into it. I want to share a bit of what my ‘Beasties’ give and have given me throughout the years. It’s always been interesting to see how my pets show me who they are, and how they reflect back to me various aspects of who I am. It’s either that, or I have multiple personalities. I kid, of course. And it’s in my willingness to understand them through experience and observation, they have revealed their true characters, quirks and personalities to me. And therein lie their magic and gifts. KEEPING ME PRESENT AND GROUNDED My lot help to keep me present and grounded, especially when I am going…

Email elainemillin.art@gmail.com to buy an artwork featured here, donate materials or to find out more about the programme.…

I’m quite an ardent TikTok follower an d marvel at posts ranging from the most ridiculous to the sublime. It’s all about the algorithm, and if you are not careful about curating yours, you can be led down the proverbial rabbit hole of clickbait, and end up watching the most inane content. As I was scrolling the TikTok ‘streets’, I frequently came across the name of a Netflix show titled Love On The Spectrum. It’s a romantic documentary series about people on the autism spectrum looking for love, and how they navigate dating and relationships. Not my normal cup of tea, and I was worried that it would have been turned into a spectacle to gawk at. My curiosity was aroused, though, when it kept dominating the online conversations, and…

Your generous participation in the BIG 200 campaign has been invaluable in so many ways. Your regular financial contribution of R200 per month helps us keep our doors open to welcome new microentrepreneurs who are motivated to work for themselves - that's how important your support is! Thank you for spreading the word about the BIG 200 campaign to your family, friends, associates and networks. For readers who wish to sign up to the campaign, this is how it works: the BIG 200 campaign was launched to achieve the goal of getting 200 people and/ or companies to pledge R200 per month to support the costs of publishing the magazine. So far, about 150 donors have contributed in name or anonymously; see the BIG 200 Wall of Fame at http://www.bigissue.org.za/big-200-wall-offame.…

Access to essential medicines remains a significant challenge in South Africa, particularly in rural areas where the availability and affordability of pharmaceuticals are critical concerns. Recent developments, such as the halting of funding by the United States, have further exacerbated these issues, impacting healthcare delivery and outcomes across the nation. CHALLENGES IN RURAL ACCESS TO MEDICINES In South Africa, rural communities face pronounced difficulties in accessing essential medicines. Approximately 44% of the population lives in rural areas, yet these regions are served by only 12% of the country’s healthcare providers. This disparity leads to understaffed health facilities, limited medical supplies, and reduced healthcare services. Patients in these areas often travel long distances to reach the nearest health facility, a journey that can be both time-consuming and costly. Such barriers discourage…

To get to Namibia, I had to book a complex web of flight connections. When I finally landed at the airport of Windhoek, the capital, morning had just broken. I didn’t care about lack of sleep. I was still young. Namibia is home to the Namib Desert as well as to part of the Kalahari. Witnessing a winter sunrise when the desert gets painted in yellows and soft ochres; and the cobalt-blue horizon in ever brighter shades of red, peach, orange and gold is a moving, almost spiritual experience. No other country matches the majesty of Namibia’s arid and desert landscapes. My clumsy words can never do it justice, though, so go and see it for yourself. Katutura (Windhoek’s main black township), June 1991. I had worked for a week…

MAKE A VENDOR'S WISH COME TRUE Contact us at placements@bigissue.org.za if you think you can be of assistance. Entrance of Sun Valley Mall, Fish Hoek Vendor: Bongani Pholo Vendor number: 1280 Bongani (40), who is married with three school-going children, lives in Khayelitsha in a three-roomed house. His wife is unemployed, however, she takes good care of the house and their family. Bongani has been selling The Big Issue for 22 years now. In September last year, he found a stable job as a driver, transporting staff. However, he is back to selling magazines after leaving the driving job following a carjacking that left him traumatised and feeling that he was not willing to risk his life for the money. Why he chose to return to The Big Issue: Making a…

In an effort to strengthen burn unit care services and ensure children’s suffering is minimised as much as possible across the Western Cape, the Children’s Hospital Trust recently rolled out a programme to develop the skills of local nurses and healthcare workers to provide effective treatment. The programme, which is ongoing, is helping staff of the Worcester Hospital, which plays a crucial role in the Trust’s ongoing burns expansion project. Benefitting from the programme, Maxine Boysen is a qualified nurse from this hospital who recently completed a two-week internship in the Burn Unit at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital. For Maxine, the internship has been a great learning experience, which has opened her eyes to the demands of timely burn care treatment and how different medical professionals work…

Draw a circle around the part of my body that I use to smell good and bad things. Look at the things below. Put a cross through those that smell bad. Spot the difference Rong has chosen to be responsible. He is making his own bed without being told to do so. See if you can find six differences between the pictures of Rong. 1. Rong’s finger is missing 2. An eyeball on the slippers is missing 3. Glass of water is empty 4. There are four birds in the sky 5. There’s an extra patch on the soccer ball 6. There’s one less wooden pole on the headboard.…